Match fishing

THIRTY-EIGHT anglers turned out to honour the late Jim Foster in Marston AC’s special memorial match on the Thames at Donnington, Oxford, and fittingly, the river was in fantastic form.

There were 11 weights over 20lb and a total of 450lb of fish was brought to the scales.

The host club had five anglers in the top six, which would have pleased former chairman Jim, who died suddenly shortly before Christmas, aged 64.

Bream dominated the top places and winner John Jones had an impressive 46.13.0 of them on the feeder from peg 18 on the green bank.

He started with flake and liquidised bread, switching later to groundbait and worm.

Not far behind with 45.1.0 was Graham Bradshaw, again with bream taken on the feeder and worm.

Anthony Tomkins had 37lb exactly of slabs on the feeder, alternating between worm and red maggot on the hook.

Other placings: 4 L Shepherd 32.9.0, 5 S Tomkins 31.7.0.

There was a raffle after the match which raised £252 to be donated to a charity of Jim’s widow Teresa’s choice.

Among the organisations donating prizes were Fat Phil’s Tackle, Fishing Tackle Direct, Acorn Angling, Predator Angling Centre and Drennan International.

Eleven anglers fished Masons AC’s points match on the Thames from Osney Lock downstream.

Conditions were blustery and there was a fair amount of tow on the water.

Bob Yeomans topped the field with 11.4.0 of pole-caught fish on bronze maggot over groundbait, which included some good roach and perch, plus one chub.

A similar net of fish gave Chris Webb second place, using the same tactics for 9.14.0.

Steve Wildman was third with perch and roach for 6.10.0.

Brown trout are increasingly being caught in matches fished on the Thame, but it was chub that dominated Cuddesdon Mill’s Ken Cook Cup, fished by 14 anglers at Chislehampton.

Ben Baker triumphed with a lone chub of 3.12.0 on pole and maggot.

Other placings: 2= R Martin & M Harding 2.6.0 (both chub).

Geoff Ring reports that a cracking chub of 6.3.0 was caught recently from the stretch and he welcomed the appearance of the trout, which will count in their matches and are at least putting a bend in anglers’ rods.

Charlbury AC held their fourth Winter League match on the Oxford Canal at the Rock of Gibraltar which proved very tough on the crystal-clear water.

Result: 1 P Bowen 1.13.0 (roach & bleak, pole & pinkie), 2 S Arthurs 1.10.0, 3 C Cox 1.8.8.

Tackley Estates AC fished their Cliff Williams Trophy on the Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford where Frank Malone topped the ten-man field with 2.7.0 of perch and roach on pole, bloodworm and joker.

Other results: 2= A Alder & S Malone 0.14.0, 4 J Spencer 0.13.8.

A strong crosswind made it difficult for the 21 anglers fishing Oakfield’s match on Saturday, and it robbed Pete Alland of a possible victory.

He looked well set to win from peg 16 on Brook until a powerful gust snapped his pole and brought a premature end to catching at distance.

Wayne Clarke caught carp to 7lb on corn or maggot to win.

RESULTS

Oakfield: (Saturday, Swallow & Brook, 21 fished) 1 W Clarke (Ernest Turner) 38.15.0, 2 P Alland (GOT Baits Oakfield) 32.0.0, 3 M Worrall (GOT Baits Oakfield) 27.8.0.

Oakfield: (Wednesday, Swallow & Brook Lake, 12 fished) 1 M Giles (RS Baits) 32.10.8, 2 J Brewster (GOT Baits Oakfield), 27.11.0, 3 M Pollard (Shimano/Dynamite Baits) 24.12.8.

MATCH DIARY

Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday

Oakfield: Tel 01296 770899.

TODAY

Coldstone AC: Open, Evenlode. Draw 8.30am, fishing 10am-3pm.

TOMORROW

North Oxford: Club match, Oxford Canal, Waltonwell Road. Draw 8am.

Littlemore: Classic Flooring Shield, Stable Lake. Draw 8am.

Winter Carp League: Barford. Draw 8am.

Cuddesdon: N & G Ring Pairs Cup, Drayton Bridge. Draw 8am.

Oxford Waltonian: Short Shield, Wheatley Bridge. Draw 8am.

Benson: KW Shield, Thames at Benson. Draw 8am.

Dorchester AS: KW Shield. Benson. Meet 9am.